小皇帝
‘Little Emperor Syndrome’ is a term used to describe the behavioural time-bomb created by China’s One Child Policy. Introduced in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution as a way of curbing population growth, an entire generation was raised without siblings. Pampered, entitled, and bucking against China’s proud tradition of filial piety, the children of the world’s next superpower were born bearing the weight of their parents’ expectations.
In 2016 China’s One Child Policy officially ended, and to mark the close of an era, we’ve teamed up with award-winning Australian writer Lachlan Philpott and one of Beijing’s most innovative directors, Wang Chong, to explore the stories, secrets and aspirations of the children of a radical political experiment. Set in both Melbourne and Beijing, and weaving between Mandarin and English, this rich and revelatory new play cuts through our assumptions to take us deep into the lives of a generation of secret and only children.
"HEIGHTENED, VISUALLY STRIKING DOMESTIC MELODRAMA"
"ASPIRING AND AMBITIOUS, THEATRE DIRECTOR WANG CHONG IS ON A MISSION TO OVERTHROW THE DATED STAGE TECHNIQUES THAT DOMINATE CHINESE THEATRE TODAY"
PRODUCTION PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS
A Malthouse Theatre production presented in association with Asia TOPA: Asia Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts, and supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria. With producing support from Ping Pong Productions. Little Emperors is supported by the Sidney Myer Fund and Arts Centre Melbourne for Asia TOPA. Asia TOPA is a joint initiative of the Sidney Myer Fund and Arts Centre Melbourne and is supported by the Australian and Victorian Governments.
Key image: by Zan Wimberley
Images: Tim Grey
WRITTEN BY / | Lachlan Philpott |
DIRECTION / | Wang Chong |
CAST / | Diana (Xiaojie) Lin, Liam Maguire, Alice Qin & Yuchen Wang |
DRAMATURGY / | Mark Pritchard |
SET & COSTUME DESIGN / | Romanie Harper |
LIGHTING DESIGN & AV CONSULTANT / | Emma Valente |
SOUND DESIGN / | James Paul |
AV PROGRAMMER / | Andre Vanderwert |
STAGE MANAGER / | Harriet Gregory |
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER / | Matilda Woodroofe |
SCRIPT TRANSLATION / | Hongyi Tian |
SURTITLES / | Felix Ching Ching Ho |
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Event & ticketing details
Accessibility
Dates & Times
PREVIEWS | 8pm Thu 9 Feb, 8pm Fri 10 Feb, 8pm Sat 11 Feb, 7pm Mon 13 Feb |
OPENING NIGHT | 8pm, Tue 14 Feb |
TIME TO TALK | 7pm, Tue 21 Feb |
MONASH MEETS MALTHOUSE | 3.30pm Sat 25 Feb, 8pm Sat 25 Feb |
Location
Beckett Theatre
The Malthouse, 113 Sturt St, Southbank 3006
Get directionsTrain
Any train to Flinders Street, then a 12-minute stroll through Melbourne’s sparkling Arts Precinct.Tram
The No. 1 South Melbourne tram goes right past our door. Get off at Stop 18. Any tram down St Kilda Road—jump off at Grant Street, Stop 17 and take a 3-minute walk.Event notes
DURATION /
1 hour, 35 minutes (no interval)
NOTE /
There is a chance patrons in the front rows may experience incidental splashing from the water stage.